Hi...which orchid hooked you first?

[Graham]

Hello...

This is my first post to OrchidBoard.

I've just recently gotten into the world of Orchids since being impressed by how such an amazingly visual plant grew with so little effort, particularly how easily they grow indoors...that gives Orchids a greater appeal living in rainy England!

Thought it'd be interesting to say hello by finding out what spiked your interest in orchids...

Was it a particular colour/color? A particular scent? or a combination of the senses?

Couldn't decide which Smiley went best with this post, so I've put a few in the mix:

...and the banana's just funny:

Graham.

[camille1585]

Welcome to OB, fellow European person!
My first orchid was a pink NOID cymbidium, but what really got me hooked was the second one I got: Burrageara 'Nelly Isler' I loved the scent, the color, and the fact that it had 8 spikes! Unfortunately I killed it, but I'm planning to get another one ASAP since I loved it so much!

Which one got you hooked??

[Graham]

Hey-up, camille!

The pink NOID cymbidium... I've just done a quick Google, for a picture. This the one:?

noid Cymbidium 2-04 pictures from gardens photos on webshots

And the Burrageara 'Nelly Isler'?:

Orchid of the Week Library: Burrageara Nelly Isler 'Swiss Beauty'

As I can't smell them, my next question is the 'death' one...how'd the Nelly Isler become compost fodder?

Oh...you dance very nicely ( )

[Becca]

Welcome! My first was a Dmgra. Winter Wonderland "White Fairy" (Mtssa. Cartagena Odm. Gledhow). My sister gave it to me. She raised orchids in a greenhouse in Oregon and decided after a while she needed a break. So she sent that one to me....it bloomed for me and then my poor knowledge of proper care slowly killed it. I will have to buy another one since it was very beautiful!

[Ross]

Welcome, my first (I think) was a white NOID Phalenopsis. Hard to say, because I have a photo from 1960's with two orchids in front of window. One is definitely a Phal, Not sure on other (not great photo).

[tuvoc]

My first one was Bc. Imperialis. I ordered it in bud out of an ad in a garden magazine. Back then, I didn't know what 'Bc.' meant. I thought it was part of the name. so I called it 'Cattleya BC Imperialis'. I haven't seen it offered for years, but I still look once in a while.

Kim

[Graham]

Becca, I found this Dgmra/Dmgra...is that the one?:



I'm not familiar with the naming of orchids... I get 'cars'; you know, you get a Make (Ford) and a model (Mustang), could you relate orchids in the same way? So, would Dgmra/Dmgra be the "Make" or the "Model"...

Hope I haven't just blacklisted myself from OrchidBoard.com with such an analogy!

[Tsuchibuta]

My first was Phal. Zuma Confectioner; well I bought it for my then girlfriend (now my wife). I was ultimately the caregiver for said plant. Otherwise the first plant I bought specifically for myself would probably be Bulbophyllum ambrosia. The phal has large pink blooms with a purple lip. I even like the foliage which has a slight reddish tint to it, unlike the rest of my phals with plain leaves. I would love to find some of the variegated leaf varieties.

[Ross]

Nope Great question! Dgmra = [Brassia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum] They are called intergenerics simply because the crosses involve different genera. They are some of the most robust plants beginners can aquire because they adopt the best characteristics of each genera.

[Graham]

Tsuchibuta, what do you mean by "variegated leaf varieties"?